Sara

Early June, 77AD Ovinia sat in the blossoming, fragrant gardens of the domus, smoothing soft fingers over the folds of her palla and arranging them just right. She knew the drill by now and what was expected of her. This wasn't the first visit she'd had to contend with since she'd found her fathers list and since the attack, and she was only hopeful that this suitor would show himself to be as ill-suited as the rest of them. She hadn't even needed to give her father her own opinions on the men that had come before Senator Publius Horatius Justinus; Gaius Ovinius Camillus had found them of ill-repute and struck them from his mind. Which was for the better. Ovinia only hoped that Publius would share their fate. Not that she had any particular opposition to the man (beyond his age and the fact she'd learned he already had a son) after their conversation at Cerealia, six or so weeks before, but he wasn't who she wanted. And any delay was good. Still, she had her duty to do and it had been made painfully clear to her that her father was not going to suffer any further delay. She had turned twenty the month prior in May which meant her father was now required to pay tax on the fact that she was unwed. He had - in his own way - given her grace since the attack and the execution but his patience had worn thin to the point of snapping, and he had made it very plain that now was the time for her to be wed. She was still of an age where they could say her father had been choosy, but another year or Gods forbid two and people would start asking very unsavoury questions. So here she sat - bedecked in simple fashions but each piece exquisitely crafted. It needed to appear effortless, as if she woke up every morning with the beautifully soft waves in her hair and chose at random the fine green silk (from Teutus' own supplies) chiton and darker green palla with its embroidered gold depictions of flowers. She wore no make-up which made her appear slightly younger than when she lined her dark eyes with kohl as she did for some social occasions, and she wore simple, neat, elegant gold jewellery: a necklace, a ring on her right forefinger and one gold bangle. It was the same routine and same appearance she put on for all the men who called. Or...most of the men who called. She swallowed the memories of a different man and an altogether different set of dress...or lack thereof....in a different domus in Rome. She felt her cheeks flush slightly at the thought. Which was inconvenient as she heard her fathers voice and the sound of another mans moving through the domus. She stood up, brushing down her dress and offered a polite smile as Gaius Major introduced her. "My daughter, Ovinia Camilla. Although I believe you have met at...Cerealia, was it?" Ovinia inclined her head politely at the man and then nodded, smiling slightly. "Senator Justinus, and yes. It is a pleasure." Was it? These meetings never were usually - they were all so formulaic but she didn't let anything of that sort show on her face and merely waited for the men to sit before she resumed her perch on the bench. TAG: @Sarah

His sister was around, although not in any real mood to greet newcomers. She was sat in a large, high-backed chair in one of the receiving rooms that led off from the garden - the one that housed her hydraulis - knees drawn up to her chest and frowning as she surveyed her jewellery. Dressed simply in a plainish (for her) tunica of red she cast another piece of with a sigh. In much the same way she often demanded her dresses be carried out here so she could inspect them in the natural light of the day, she was now doing the same to her jewellery. The mounds of necklaces and armbands, rings and bracelets, earrings and hair pieces were arrayed on a not insubstantial table in front of her. "I don't know where I got half of this tat from." She muttered to Lucia, her bodyslave, with a frown. Some of it she'd inherited from grandparents passed or her mother had gifted it to her. Other bits she'd bought herself and some had come from ill-suited suitors who had thought some gaudy, tacky bracelet would win her affection. Did they think her stupid? That she couldn't tell the difference in weight between something of solid gold and something merely coated in it? Or the difference between a ruby and red coral? Fools. She added another piece to the second table; some tacky chain for her neck. "This can be sold as well." She said as she set it down. The family absolutely, in no way, needed the money but it was good to be practical and sort through this sort of thing now before she inevitably bought more. And then she heard footfalls - not the sound of her barefooted slaves running around but the clomp of sandals that signalled it was one of her family members most likely. She glanced up, tossing her hair over her shoulder before she smiled genuinely at seeing Lucius. "Well this is a pleasant surprise." She didn't move to stand but beckoned him to come and kiss her cheek before freezing as she saw what...or rather who he had brought with him. "And...what is this, brother?" TAG: @Faustus @Sarah

"At least you have an excuse." She noted to Publius with a slightly wry smile and slight self-deprecation, "Your absence, I mean. Whereas I'm just unschooled in the latest news from the factions." She cast a glance down at the track again, watching them closely although it required that she had to squint her eyes a little. Even from this distance it was hard to tell, and she was grateful the faction leaders had been sensible eons ago when they decided to bedeck their riders in specific colours. But the conversation meandered on and she watched the race, chattering with those closest to her as the older men in front spoke with one another. She had no interest in prying on their conversations but the name Calpurnia did ring a bell. She was perhaps a surprisingly pious woman who enjoyed her frequent visits to the Temples of Rome. Vesta she held for special occasions, but she had come to know the Vestals by sight and occasionally name. She had spoken rarely to the tall, elegant blonde but now the cogs clicked into place that the Calpurnia she had met was the sister of the Consul prior. Curious. Good for him, she thought of Publius; trying for an ex-Vestal. It never hurt men to have ambition in life. Which was why she was surprised as he reacted to her lament about her dress with what she was fairly confident was an attempt at flirtation. She arched a brow, her lips twitching as she studied him for a beat before retorting; "Green suits me better. But Fortuna was smiling when I chose this," she gestured at the silks she was bedecked in, "Our man in green is doing terribly." And with a chuckle she gestured at the track where said man was very clearly trailing and looked close to his axis splintering. Her eyes flicked back to Publius for a second more of study before she glanced to Marcus Silanus and her brother next to her. "How does one even place a bet?" As a well-bred young woman gambling was very much not in her repertoire of social skills. TAG: @Atrice @Sarah @Sharpie @Jenn @Insignia

Well, at least it was her brother and not her father. And at least Lucia had warned them so there was a respectable distance between them now, however superficial it might be. She saw her brothers disapproval as he leant against the doorframe and she huffed, folding her arms over her chest unconsciously, much like he was. To see them together was clear they were siblings, not that Ovinia noticed. "Yes, and visible from slave doors with brothers who wish to butt in, clearly." She rolled her eyes and shot him a little glare, trying to feign imperiousness where she felt none. Had Lucia not warned them or her brother had come a few moments earlier this would have been a very different conversation. She swallowed at her own recklessness. "Father was being unreasonable." She said quietly as if he might still hear her, "And I could hardly talk to Vigile Roscianus in the house with him here could I?" she glanced across at Lucius for support before looking back to her brother. "Why? Are you going to complain to him that I've been conversing with a Vigile unguarded?" She challenged her favourite brother. TAG: @Chevi @Sarah

"Yes domine, the urban cohorts are arranging it now. I didn't tell them your name or where to take you though, I thought you would r-rather do that." She swallowed, choosing not to tell him the cost right now. It sounded like a fortune to her, but then again most things did to somebody who had lived in poverty. Gently, she moved to kneel down in front of the bench, in front of him, knees sinking into the grass. She peered at him with concern writ large on her face but she stayed silent, watching him instead. She didn't know what to do and didn't want to be useless but similarly, she wasn't a medicus or a herb wife. And had no clue what this could be. TAG: @Atrice

"Yes dominus I-" her eyes widened in panic as he doubled over, clutching at his stomach. She bit her lip harder and glanced around, panicked. She was wearing her plain tunica, mercifully, so she was hopeful people wouldn't refuse water to her just because she was a whore. But she tucked her slave collar into her dress just to be safe and then with a few quiet words; "I-I will run and fetch water domine, I will be back, I p-promise." And then she set off on a wobbly run. The first people she tried laughed in her face and it was only when she spotted a member of the urban cohorts and explained the situation did she manage to procure a waterskin and after thanking him gratefully and asking if he could procure a litter (which he agreed to doing, with a grumble and a demand to be paid immediately) did she set off to return to Lucius. She had been gone a little while and was breathless and flushed as she skidded to a stop in front of him. "Water, domine, a-and a litter is on the way. But I can cancel it, if you would rather I thought better to have the o-option?" TAG: @Atrice

She nodded and then realised he wouldn't be able to see it and hurried to his side. Gently, she moved to grip onto his arm and tried to lift it over her shoulder so she could take some of his weight if he wanted. But she was slight and little and not particularly helpful. She tried her best though, moving at a shuffling pace until they were a few steps from the bench. She didn't look at him, biting her lip. If he was ill, seriously ill, then it was a problem. A very, very big problem. He was not a pleasant man but he was better than Titus. And potentially better than any other dominus that would come after him. Stop it Hilaera, he's fine, stop being so dramatic she chided herself. She was breathless as they made their way over to the bench and she bit her lips as she looked at him. "I...I could run for a litter instead domine, if you would rather? I'm sure I could get one for rent? Would that be better?" She asked, a bag of nerves. TAG: @Atrice

She grumbled in protest as he got up and she knew that the time really was drawing to a close. She huffed and moved to lie on her back, legs dangling over the edge of the bed and she stretched her arms up. "No, but I need you to help me up or I'm going to stay here all day." She grinned and wiggled her fingers for him to help her. TAG: @Chevi

She smiled a little, trying to keep it off of her face but she couldn't. She shivered again at his kiss on her shoulder and she moved to kneel up, tucking the sheet around herself to cover her modesty. Not that she should have really, given what they'd done. She brushed her fingers over his neck and grimaced. "I...might have been a little less restrained." She chuckled and brushed over a blossoming bruise on the base of his neck and then a few scratch marks from her nails on his chest. She suspected his back was just as bad. "M'sorry." She chuckled and leant down to kiss the scratches softly. "But now I really do have to go..." TAG: @Chevi

She shrunk back a bit as he snapped at her, as she habitually did in the face of men aggrieved at her. She just stood there, awkwardly unmoving and watching his back as he kept stopping and clutching at his stomach. A few people milled around and cast them glances and Ione stared at her toes. Swallowing she didn't want to risk his ire but if he was seriously ill and she didn't do anything...surely that would be worse? She dithered, hesitating over what to do and then quietly spoke again. "I...I can try and find a waterskin from somebody here dominus, if you'd like some water?" She bit her lip and glanced at him. "O-Or I can help you to the bench? For your break?" She gestured. "It is not far." TAG: @Atrice

"Oh shut up." she muttered in protest but didn't really mean it as she chuckled and pushed herself up. She couldn't help the shiver that ran her spine as he brushed his fingers across her neck and tilted her chin. She let him. She'd let him do anything. Stop it, Ovinia, you have to go home. "What are you looking for?" She chuckled and then glanced back at him. "And I'm going to the baths so I don't need to look perfect but I do need to look like I haven't just spent the whole afternoon in bed with you." She smirked and leant to kiss him softly. TAG: @Chevi

Ione didn't know what to think. On the one hand, more time out of the brothel could only ever be a good thing. Even with the repairs it would always be a depressing, cold, oppressive place for her and a wealthy client was good. It's what girls like her dreamed about. Except she didn't. She wanted more time in one house in particular, not another wealthy pleb to service. She stayed silent, quiet and stood behind her dominus with her eyes lowered as they made their agreement and then he took his lunch. She was ravenous but didn't ask for anything. She knew better and when it was time to head home, she followed Armenius silently. They might have come to an arrangement and she saw him more often now, but she still didn't like how little she knew him and so she stayed quiet, not making any conversation at all. And then he stopped and she frowned, glancing at his back. Should she...do something? He didn't move and she bit her lip. She swallowed and drew slightly closer, although still behind him. She knew her place. "Are you alright domine?" She asked in a quiet voice, anxiety in her voice. TAG: @Atrice

"No." She whined and then chuckled, curling closer to him. "Don't sound so pleased with yourself." She mumbled. Though he had every right to be. She didn't know her body could react like that...or that it was possible to feel like that and not simply explode from the sensations. With a moan she pushed herself up to face him and grimaced. "Do I look a mess?" TAG: @Chevi

She raised her arms to bring him down and over her to deepen the kiss again, feeling the want build and tug and throb deep within her. The break had been brief but as he kissed her she wasn't sure she could take another moment without him and his love and his...work. She deepened the kiss, breaking it only to murmur; "I love you." As she pressed a kiss to his cheek, already breathless, already desperately in need of him. FTB --- It was several hours later when Ovinia, spent and utterly satisfied groaned and glanced at the dimming light from the window. She was sprawled, head on Lucius' chest, half covered in the sheet, half left to the elements. "Lucius, I have to go." She murmured but made absolutely no move to stand up. She wasn't sure her legs would carry her if she tried to stand. TAG: @Chevi

She wished she could say she wanted him forever. That she'd need him forever. But she knew she couldn't swear to it because one day there would be a man, a fine gold ring, a political career and likely a whole brood of children between them. She shook her head minutely to get rid of the thought and instead sunk into his touch underneath the covers and moved her fingers to sweep over his cheek and down his throat. "I need you now." She murmured and flicked her eyes to his face, watching him carefully. "I want to make the most out of this afternoon I...don't know when I'll be able to get away again." She swallowed. "Without the slaves getting suspicious." TAG: @Chevi

She smirked. "I still think all of that." She set down her own wine cup and shifted a little to face him, moving an arm up to stroke the nape of his neck softly. "Although I did always think you were handsome. In fact I remember remarking to Lucia how unfortunate that such a good looking man could be such an irritant." She chuckled and shuddered a little as he nipped at her shoulder. "And all of that is probably still true for me." She smirked and exhaled a shaky breath. "And I hope to the Gods they never sell this place because I am telling you now Lucius, this...can't be a one off thing. I can't go back again. Not now." TAG: @Chevi

She felt her heart flutter in her chest as he said he loved her. She would absolutely never, ever, ever get over hearing that and she breathed a small smile, her sourness of a moment ago disappearing. It was gone by the time he grinned and pressed a soft kiss against her lips, murmuring against them. "Me either." She grinned in return and moved her fingers to brush through his hair. "Why did we wait so long?" She groaned. She knew her time was running out although she prayed silently she still had a few more months for...this. TAG: @Chevi

"HAH!" She exclaimed, swatting at his arm with a triumphant grin that morphed into a glare. "I knew you'd slept with her! She was awful to me! Ugh!" She glared again and then folded her arms over herself. "So I am number five...unless...this doesn't count." She frowned to herself. She wanted it to count. It certainly counted to her. She listened and the flush came back as the glare settled down as he glanced down at her. She didn't want to talk about husbands, she wanted to talk about him. "And I could tell you wanted me..." She gave him a slightly sly look. "From sight but..." she swallowed. "I...did want you. I do want you." TAG: @Chevi

"Four?" She frowned, peering up at him. "Your blonde friend from Tiberius' party?" She arched a brow now, and then continued... "And two others...or three others, excluding me?" She didn't know why she wanted to know, but she was...pleasantly surprised. "I swear some of my brothers have slept with half of Rome's women by their talk...that's a...modest number by comparison." Or Minor and Tertius were liars. Probably the latter. And then she listened to his explanation, pulling her knees up to her chest. She felt a throb deep within her - half in pleasure at the thought, half in pain that it wouldn't be him. She took another sip of wine. "Everybody I know who speaks about it tells each other how dreadful it is." She grimaced. "It doesn't inspire confidence. But...you do." She chuckled and turned to press a kiss to his jaw. TAG: @Chevi

She glared at him some more as he laughed and batted him away as he kissed her forehead. "You owe me two questions for getting me to admit to that." She huffed as she pushed herself higher again and plucked up his spare arm so she could curl against his chest, wrapping it back around her as she did. She narrowed her eyes. He had asked a very personal question so fair was fair. "My first question is...what number am I?" She arched a brow and watched him for a moment, before clarifying. "As in, how many women have you done this with?" And then with a slightly less smug and more genuine expression she continued, clearing her throat. "And...is...the full thing...sex...very different to this, then?" TAG: @Chevi

"Oh...um..." She cleared her throat and had another hefty glug of wine. "I...I didn't know what to do so...it took a while to figure out what to do." She admitted quietly, pleased she wasn't looking at him so he couldn't see her flaming red cheeks. Or she hoped he couldn't anyway. "It...felt...like nothing I'd ever felt before and I didn't understand." She admitted, quieter still and then cleared her throat. "And then when I first...had the wave a few days later," She blinked, "Wave of pleasure...I...thought something was wrong with me and I was about to go and wake up the slaves to fetch a medicus." She sunk down until just her face was showing under the sheet, thoroughly embarrassed. "I'm glad Lucia talked me out of that." She murmured. She had woken her bodyslave who had looked at her utterly bemused. "But it...felt..." She groaned, embarrassed, "So much better with you. There. Satisfied?" She shot a glare up at him. TAG: @Chevi

She shuffled closer to him, still sat against the headboard, draping her leg over his. She liked the feeling of his closeness, it made her feel...safe. She remembered what Aia had said and smiled softly to herself. But she could tell she'd taken a misstep. She had meant it as a joke, an extension of the idea that this domus was theirs but she regretted it as soon as she glanced up to see his face and his momentary silence. She swallowed. She tried her very best to push out any thoughts of marriage. It would never be him. She felt sick and took a sip of wine, gulping it down. She exhaled as he moved on and she wondered if he'd noticed her stillness for just a fraction of a moment. She blinked and tilted her face up to look at him. The flush was back. "I..." She blinked again. "Do you mean the first time I...tried it...by myself?" She swallowed, her throat dry again. "Or...what was it like...just now?" TAG: @Chevi

She smiled slightly shyly but that was overtaken fairly quickly with narrowed eyes and an amused look as he stood to go downstairs. "And they say women are the weaker sex, yet men can't even give themselves pleasure without a rest in-between..." She gave him a slightly challenging look but it was offset by the colour on her face. Moreso as he strutted to go and pick up his tunica. Whilst she was left alone she sighed and rolled her head back, staring up at the ceiling. She waited, in the quiet, for the feelings of guilt and regret to come but...they didn't. There was anxiety, of course, that she had done something so forbidden women had been killed for it before. Exiled. Slaughtered. And yet she didn't feel guilt. It was the first thing she'd ever really done for herself purely because she wanted to do it and it wasn't expected of her. Her hobbies, her flippancy with the slaves, the shopping, all of it was expected. This was not. She gave him an eye roll as he moved back in with the goods, chuckling. She chose to join the fantasy rather than break it. "Of course I would, I'd be materfamilias and don't they say happy wife happy life?" She grinned and extended her hand for a cup of wine. TAG: @Chevi

She gave him a sly little smirk that would have been completely out of place on her face thirty minutes prior. But now she knew more. Granted...not everything, hence her little frown and question. "Is that how it works? Men need breaks?" She tilted her head and studied him, fingers splaying and playing over his chest as his hand stroked her back. "But I didn't mean that," She chuckled awkwardly with a blush and shifted to sit up in the bed next to him, leaning against the headboard with the sheet covering her, tucked under her arms. "Just...if only this were a real domus we could have slaves to bring us up the food and wine so we'd never have to leave this bed." She gave him a small pout and a very unsubtle hint that she wanted him to go down and get it. TAG: @Chevi

Ione didn't imagine that he could read, but even if he could she didn't mind so much that he'd know what she was. She was not ashamed. How could she be? Shame was reserved for people that still had a life outside of their embarrassment. Ione didn't. Everything she knew was at the brothel - her work, her friends, her place of rest. It was who she was. But his awkward reaction to her questions made her grin, giggling a little. He was a charioteer. "For the whites?" She gestured at his neckerchief as he had. "I...hope I get to see you ride one day. And I'm sure you're just being very modest, I'm sure you're actually terribly famous and just humouring me." She smiled more softly at him. Roars went up around them as more gladiators entered the sands and Ione flicked those big doe eyes down. She squinted. It was difficult to see from this far up. "I have only watched Gladiators but I have a feeling I'd prefer the races." She gave him a sly smile and flicked her eyes to the wineskin he was holding. She'd like a sip but didn't dare ask for it back. TAG: @Chevi